Improvement in toy pistols



W. J. SHIPMAN, decd A. B. SEFMOUR, Admr.

Toy-Pistol. v

No. 219,180. Patented Sept. 2,1879.

FIG-l.

MFETERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEioE.

ALFRED B. SEYMOUR, (ADMINISTRATOR OF ESTATE OF WILLIAM J. SHI

DECEASED OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT lN TOY PISTOLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,180, dated September 2, 1879; application filed July 24, 1879.

To all whom it, may concern:

Be it known that WILLIAM J. SHIPMAN, late of Portsmouth, Sciota county, Ohio, was, in his life-time, the inventor of certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Pistols, of which the following is a specification.

This is an improvement on the toy patented by the aforesaid WILLIAM J. SHIPMAN, October 15,1867 and the present invention oomprises a novel construction of the ball or projectile that is adapted to be used with the pistol. Said ball is grooved circumferentially to permit the ready attachment of the ends of the elastic cord, and said groove has engaged with it the detent or tooth of the trigger that maintains the ball in its normal position on the barrel of the pistol, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the toy, the ball being shown in its normal position on the barrel or shaft, and a portion of the pistol-handle being in section.

Fig. 2 is asimilar elevation, but showing the elastic cord orthong stretched and engaged over the notched end of the barrel. Fig. 3 is aplan of the pistol, the ball being shown in section and in the act of beingfired off. Fig.

4 is an axial section of the projectile detached from the pistol. I

The barrelor shaft A, which is preferably I cylindrical, is attached at one end to the bandle or stockB, whilethe otherendof said barrel is notched at G to receive the middle portion or bend of an elastic cordor thong, D,

f that is used for impelling the ball or other suitable projectile E. This ball has an axial bore, F, of such diameteras to permit free passage of the shaft A, and said ball is grooved circumferentially at G,to admit the tooth or other detent, H, of a trigger, I, which latter is pivoted to handle B at J. K. is a compressible pad, cushion, or spring, that causes said detent to engage with this groove, as seen in Fig. 1. Furthermore, this groove G has secured in it, by staples or pins L L, the

ends of the thong D, thereby affording a very secure attachment of said thong or other elastic device, and preventing an undue projection of the staples.

In its normal position, the ball E is applied .to shaft or barrel A, and is run back until it comes in contact with handle B, at which time n portion or bend can be engaged over the notched end 0 of the barrel, as seen in Fig. 2. Evidentlythe ball has now a tendency to be discharged from the shaft, which tendency will be in proportion to the stress of thong D; but the projectile will remain in the condition seen in Fig. 2 as long as detent H is engaged with the groove. The very instant trigger J is pulled the spring or thong D is at liberty to exercise its full force, and consequently ball E is discharged from the pistol,

the shaft A serving to guide said ball in a direct path.

. In reloading the pistol the bend of thong D may be engaged with notch C while ball E is being run home, as the elasticity of this thong causes it to close the outer end of bore F the moment said projectile is disengaged from the shaft. (See Fig. 4..) p p The groove G being a continuous one, the detent H will always engage therewith when the ball is driven home, no matter what the axial position of said ball may be with reference to shaft A. This groove, however, need not be continuous, but can be interrupted at intervals; or the detent may be engaged in either one of a series of radial sockets in the ball.

Finally, the staples L L, being more or less embedded or sunk in the groove G, can do no damage if they come in contact with any per- PlVIAN,

jectile E, having an impelling device, D, and In testimony of which invention 1 hereunto a continuous or interrupted groove, G, which set my hand.

groove receives the trigger-detent H, as de- ALFRED B- SE scribed. Administrator of the estate of William J. Ship- 2. An improved toy pistol consisting of the man, deceased.

shaft A. handle B, elastic cord D grooved pro- Witnesses:

jectile E F G, trigger H I, spring K, and sta- JAMES H. LAYMAN,

ples L L, as herein described. GEORGE H. KOLKER. 

